The Decision-Making section of XAT 2026 is important for students aspiring to become effective managers. It tests the ability to make fair and wise choices in tricky situations, just like real-life business problems. The section includes different types of questions, such as scenarios, data interpretation, and logical reasoning. Preparing well by practising case studies, improving reasoning skills, staying updated on current affairs, and understanding ethics can help score better. Many top colleges accept XAT 2026 scores, and knowing the cutoff percentiles helps set clear goals for admission.
What Decision-Making Section Demands in XAT 2026?
The Decision-Making section in the XAT 2026 exam is very important. It is not just a regular part of the test. This section is designed to assess a person's ability to make smart and fair decisions, similar to a good manager in a company. At first, it may look easy, but it tests many important skills needed to handle real-life work problems.
If someone becomes a manager, they have to make choices that affect the company’s money, the people who work there, and everyone connected to the business. These choices are not always simple. Sometimes, different people want different things, and a manager has to think carefully to keep things fair and balanced.
XLRI, the college that sets the XAT exam, has created this section to see how well students can handle tough and confusing situations. It checks how a person thinks when there is no clear right or wrong answer. It also sees if they can think about what is best for everyone involved.
So, this part of the exam is very important for students who want to study management and become leaders in the future. It helps find people who can think clearly and make good choices.
How To Approach The Decision-Making Section in XAT 2026
The Decision-Making section in the XAT 2026 exam is one of the most important parts. Just like the DILR section in the CAT Exam, this section can decide if a student will be selected for the next round or not. But there’s a big difference. While DILR checks your math and logic skills, the Decision-Making section checks how well you understand people and situations. This is called Emotional Intelligence.
To do well in this section, it’s helpful to think like a manager. A manager is someone who runs a company and takes care of employees, money, and customers. When answering questions, think about what a good leader would do. Always try to understand the problem fully and think about how your choice affects everyone involved.
Next, remember that personal feelings or moral values might not always help in solving these questions. For example, something that feels right in daily life might not be the best for a company. That’s why it’s better to separate personal morals from professional decisions. But that doesn’t mean you forget about being good and fair.
Instead, focus on ethics, which means doing the right thing at work. XLRI, the college that makes the XAT exam, wants students who make fair, honest, and responsible choices. So, while you keep your personal feelings aside, always make sure your answers are ethical and fair to all people involved.
Another tip is to pay close attention to the facts in each question. Every word in the problem is important. Try to note down the key points so you don’t miss anything. These details will help you choose the best solution.
In short, to do well in the Decision-Making section, think like a fair and smart leader. Use facts, think, stay ethical, and don’t let personal feelings affect your answers. If you follow this approach, you’ll be ready to handle the real challenges of being a manager in the future.
Also Check: XAT 2026 Exam Syllabus
XAT 2026 Exam Format
The Decision-Making section of XAT 2026 includes different types of questions designed to test how well a candidate can handle real-life problems. This section checks logical thinking, understanding of data, and the ability to make fair and smart decisions. It includes scenario-based, data-based, and logical reasoning questions, each focusing on practical judgment and ethical decision-making skills needed in a managerial role.
- Scenario-Based Questions: These give a real-life or business situation where a decision has to be made. You’ll be given a few options to choose from. All answers might look correct, but you have to pick the best one by thinking about what is right, possible, and good for everyone involved.
- Data-Based Questions: These questions show you charts, graphs, or numbers. You need to read and understand the data, then make the right decision based on what the data is saying.
- Logical Reasoning Questions: These questions test how well you can think clearly and logically. They are not very common but can still appear. You’ll need to solve the problem using smart thinking and logic.
Also Check: XAT 2026 Exam Pattern
How To Prepare For XAT 2026 Decision-Making
Preparing for the Decision-Making section of XAT 2026 requires a mix of analytical thinking, ethical understanding and awareness of real-world situations. This section is not based on formulas but on practical judgment. Building strong reasoning skills, staying informed about current affairs and practising business case studies can significantly enhance performance. A clear understanding of ethics and how they apply in business scenarios is also essential for answering questions effectively and accurately.
- Practice Case Studies: Solving different case studies helps improve decision-making skills. It is helpful to read and think about real business situations and their possible outcomes.
- Improve Logical Reasoning Skills: Some questions need clear and logical thinking. This skill can be developed by regularly practising various types of logical reasoning problems.
- Stay Updated with Current Affairs: Knowing about the latest news, business trends, and social issues helps in understanding situations better. Reading newspapers and business magazines regularly is helpful.
- Ethics and Morality: Many questions involve ethical choices. A good understanding of business ethics, along with real-life examples of ethical decisions, can aid in selecting the most suitable answer.
Tackling a XAT 2026 DM Question
There is a well-known and respected doctor who lives in a small city (Tier 3 city). He owns a big imported SUV like a Toyota Land Cruiser or a Mercedes GLS. This car is a diesel vehicle, and he loves it a lot. It’s not just a car for him—it’s something he’s proud of and enjoys driving every day to work.
But now, new government rules are going to be made. These rules are very strict and may not allow diesel cars like his to be used freely in the city anymore. The rules are being made because such cars cause a lot of pollution.
The doctor’s daughter is worried. She knows that the SUV is harming the environment, and she does not like her father using it every day. But she also knows that her father really loves the SUV, and she doesn't want to hurt his feelings or fight with him. So, she must make a smart decision—something that helps the environment and keeps her father happy.
Let’s look at the options she has, one by one:
Option A – Ask him to use public transport (like a bus)
This may not work well. The doctor is a famous person in town, and asking him to switch from his expensive car to a public bus might hurt his ego or pride. People who are respected often care a lot about how others see them. So this option may face a lot of resistance from him.
Option B – Take away the SUV
This is also not a good idea. The car is very expensive—it may have cost over a crore rupees (10 million rupees). Taking it away would hurt the doctor’s feelings. Also, unless the family can afford another similar car, this decision would feel unfair. Taking something away without asking will always make a person feel angry or sad.
Option C – Change the engine to make it pollute less
This is not practical. Changing the engine of such a car is very difficult and costly. For cars like the Land Cruiser, this is almost impossible and would take a lot of money and effort. So, this option is not useful either.
Option D – Sell the SUV and buy a new one
This might work a little, but still not so easily. Selling such an expensive diesel SUV will be very hard because of the new pollution laws. People may not want to buy a car that may soon be banned. Also, the doctor loves his car, and selling it might make him unhappy unless he really agrees with the idea himself.
Option E – Use the SUV only 2 days a week instead of daily
This is the best option. It keeps everyone happy and also helps the environment. Let’s see how:
- The doctor can still enjoy his SUV, just not every day. He may drive it on weekends, like a hobby.
- On weekdays, the doctor & his secretary can share a ride in another car. This is called carpooling and it reduces the number of vehicles on the road.
- The doctor will still reach work on time, and his secretary can help with daily tasks.
- Using the SUV only for 2 days is like starting slowly—like people trying to lose weight don’t stop eating junk food completely, they reduce it step by step.
- It is a balanced solution—not too much, not too little.
XAT Score Vs Percentile for DM
The XAT Decision-Making (DM) section scores are closely linked to percentiles, which show how a candidate performed compared to others. Higher marks correspond to higher percentiles, indicating better performance. This table helps understand the score ranges needed to achieve top percentiles in the Decision-Making section, guiding candidates on the competitive level required for selection.
Top Colleges Accepting XAT 2025 Score
Many top business schools across India accept the XAT exam score. Each college has its own expected cutoff percentile for admission, which varies by category and program. This list provides an overview of the major institutes and the approximate percentiles required, helping candidates understand the competition & set realistic goals for their XAT performance.
Final Thoughts
The Decision-Making section of XAT 2026 is crucial for aspiring managers, testing practical judgment, ethics and problem-solving skills. Thorough preparation through case studies, reasoning practice and staying updated on current affairs can boost performance. Understanding the scoring and cutoffs helps set realistic goals. With the right approach, candidates can excel in this section and improve their chances of admission to top business schools.
